Displaying and dispensing apparatus



Feb. 10, 1948. .c. H. SCHIMPFF 2,435,755

DISPLAYING AND DISPENSING APPARATUS Filed Feb. 20, 1946 4 Sheets-Sheet l Feb. 10, 1948. c. H. SCHIMPFF 2,435,755

DISPLAYING AND DISPENSING APPARATUS Filed Feb. 20, 1946 4 SheetsSheet 2 (44/245; 1 52MMPF Feb. 10, 1948. c. H. 'SCHIMPFF DISPLAYING AND DISPENSI NG APPARATUS 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Feb. 20, 1946 v? "III/I'll Feb. 10, 1948. c. H. SCHlMPFF I DISPLAYING AND DISPENSING APPARATUS Filed Feb 20, 1946 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 64424:: H .SZHM/Pff Patented Feb. 10,1948

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,435,755 DISPLAYING AND DISPENSING APPARATUS Charles H. Schimpfl, Pasadena, Calif.

Application February 20, 1946, Serial No. 649,070

6 Claims. 1

This invention relates to apparatus for displaying at motor vehicle service stations, garages and the like those accessories and articles, for example, polish, packaged lubricants, windshield wipers, tires, etc., which are usually sold at such servicing places.

One of the objects of this invention is to provide an apparatus of the character next above described which can be readily and easily installed in service stations and the like and quickly operated by an attendant to dispose adjacent an automobile or other vehicle which has stopped for service at a servicing zone of such a station, a prominent and attractive display of merchandise, with such display preferably presented in the path of the vehicle, for example, over the hood and close to the windshield where it will command the attention of the patrons during the servicing operation and require that the attendant move it out of the way in order that the vehicle may be driven away.

Another object of this invention is to provide apparatus such as described which may be conveniently installed on an overhead track for movement into diiferent servicing zones around the service station and may be readily extended from an out-of-the-way position above the patH of the vehicle into display positions directly in the path of the vehicles and vice versa with provision for presenting the display at different heights best to suit different types of motor vehicles and'the particular articles on display.

A further object is to provide an apparatus such as described which includes a carriage movable on an overhead track, a display tray or rack, a support for the tray arranged so as to be extensible and retractible from the carriage and provision for automatically applying a braking force to the carriage to prevent unintentional movement thereof onthe track incident to disposing the tray at various display levels as well as when the tray is disposed in retracted or outof-the-way position, and with provision for releasingthegcarriage for movement incident to movement of the tray into positions intermediate its display positions and out-of-the-way position.

Another object of this invention is to provide apparatus such as described wherein merchandise may be dispensed from the tray or the tray may be employed to display samples of the merchandise and in both cases will present the display for close scrutiny of the patrons.

A further object of this invention is to provide an apparatus such as described in which the display tray is latched and held in all extended posisubsequently appear, the invention resides in the parts and in the combination, construction and arrangementof parts hereinafter described and claimed, and illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary semi-schematic side elevation of the apparatus embodying my invention shown in display position in full lines;

Fig. 2 is a schematic top plan view of a typical installation of the apparatus hereof in a service station, indicating oneway in which the apparatus may be moved from place to place on an oval overhead track;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary end elevation of the track, carriage and part of the tray supporting means, looking toward the left end of Fig. 4;

Fig. 4 is a top plan view of the apparatus shown in Fig. 3 with the supports for the track omitted;

Fig. 5 1s a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 5--5 of Fig. 7;

Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken on the line 6-6 of Fig. 3 showing the tray supported in retracted position;

Fig. 7 is a sectional view similar to Fig. 6 showing the tray support extended;

Figs. 8 and 9 are fragmentary sectional views of one side only of the carriage taken respectively on the lines 88 and 9-9 of Fig. 6;

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary sectional view of one side of the carriage taken on the line Ill-l0 of Fig. 7;

Fig. 11 is a sectional view of one side of the tray support taken on the line I ll l of Fig. 1;

Fig. 12 is a fragmentary front elevation of the tray and the tray support;

Figs. 13, 14 and 15 are detail sectional views of the carriage braking means respectively showing how the brake shoes are disposed in applied position as when the tray support is extended to display position in neutral position and in the other Iapplied position as when the support is fully retracted.

Referring to the drawings more specifically,

it will be seen that one embodiment of my invention generally includes a display tray A for supporting the merchandise to be exhibited, an extensible and retractible support B for the tray, a carriage C on which the support B is mounted, a track D on which the carriage is movable and a supporting structure E such as the roofof a service station on which the track is mounted. Fig. 1 shows the track as extended over zones of service alongside the fuel pumps P of a service station. Fig. 2 shows a circuitous arrangement of the track D as one example of an installation of the apparatus afiording movement of the apparatus into different zones of service, for example, on opposite sides of a row of the pumps. However, this invention contemplates any desired arrangement of overhead supporting means for the adjustable tray support B whether stationary or movable, provided the tray maybe quickly and easily moved from out-of-the-way position into display position close to the automobile or ve hicle being serviced and may be as readily moved into an out-of-the-Way position. Lilgewise, any tray-supporting means which will permit of the quick and easy movement of the tray intoand out of the display position as herein provided for is deemed within the scope of this invention Thetray A may befcoristructed in any suitable nianner's'o that merchandise maybe e'fiectively displayed thereon subject if desiredto'being dispensedfrom the tray, andashe'r shownissuspended'from the support 3 by means of links l'. The support'B as here shown consists of a lazyfl tongs structure having two like sides each r which'includes a pairof like'crossed upper bars 2 connected with the carriage Cand pivoted at 3 where crossed, a pair of bars 4 and 5 pivoted to one another at 3 and't'o the ends of bars 2 at "I; and were of lower Bars 8 and 9 of differential lengths pivotedasat Into the lower ends of the'bars 4 and 5. The shorter lower bar 9 of each side of this structure is pivoted'on a slide member H which is' mounted to slide on the longer bar'8 asshown in Fig. 11; p As shown in Fig. 12 the tray-supporting links I are pivoted on a cro s rodl2'between the long bars 8 so that the tray will swing and remain horizontal regardless ofth afigle taken by the longb'ar's. g As" shown in Fig. 5; the" lama-aeg s support B may he reinforced by means are oros'si'o'd l4 extending between the like sides of the" support here themteimediete bars [and 5 are p'iv ote'd, and providing the pivotai connection of saidbars with one another. Nuts [5 hold the rod M'inplac'e. .v a g M As a means here hipmye'a tep'roviqe-a spring was ontheletfiy-tongs subport" he that when many" tends tomove-intore acted position, a; torsion spring'lli is moufit'ed oh the rod'l l' as show in Fig. 5' withits'endseng'aged with bars land 5 in Such manner as to achieve the lifting action required to retract the support B. A sleeve I1 encloses the spring; v r

As her sh ow th -carriag o s rfiaceer rec": tfr'gular' body l8 havingups tandingslde wa is [9 from which stub axles ZIf e'xteiidf so that' ;wheels 2| thereon may ri-cleuppn the angle rails 22 which form the track 1). These rails" 'are suspended fr'oni'tiiejroof or other supfiort E by means of bracketeza. w I g V h As a means-roe preventin the carnag from tilting;rollers*24 ar'einounteu on axles 25" on the carriage Q and disposed to contact the underside of the r'ails22asshownin Figfi; L I I As additionalf means for j retracting the lazy tongfs'upport B, a retractile spring; 21 isfase' te -ea eerie ehdtd a aekeezs' he the bo'dy 1 l8 of the carr ag -wit somer ehafixeuftp afsili'de bar i d' g 1 29' in; t e sides 19' or thefl car ThlS slide bar-extends between the upper bars 2 of the lazy-tongs support B, so that the force of the spring 21 together with the force of the torsion spring IE will retract the support B causing it to fold up as shown in dotted lines in Fig. l and as shown in Fig. 6 whereby the tray will be disposed in out-of-the-way position.

A means is provided for latching and releasably holding the lazy-tongs support in all extended positions and as here shown includes a ratchet quadrant or plate 30 fixed for rotation with a transverse shaft 3| supported by the sides 19 of the carriage C and projecting outwardly therefrom; This shaft is secured to ends of the other set or uppermost bars 2 of the support B so that it will turn when the support is extended or retracted. A spring urged pawl 32 is fulcrumed on an upwardly projecting ear 33 on one of the sides 19 and has an oifset end 32' normally engaging the ratchet member 30 so that it will prevent movement thereof inp e direction and loci; t e support 13 agaihstmovementin the, op 4 Q direction that is, against retraction. A flexible latch releasing element depends from the p 32 so that an attendant may pull on'jt to rl Se the pawl and permit thesupport B, to be re tracted by the action of the 'spririgsjlfi and 21. H

A means is provided for releasably holding the carriage C against movement on the traclgD while the tray 4; is extendedinto display pdsitionsas well as when in fully retracted positions. This means is automatic and as here show n'afiplis a braking force against the rails 2 2of tlie track p at the times specified hut auteihaticany ref.

lea'se'sithe carriage incident to movem nt of the tray into position between its display and rear ed positions. For example, the tray may be di posed in display position within a small say of several inches from its mwer'me t pb tioii and when raised beyond this range from said lowermost position, the brak'mans will leased and the carriage fredfor mhvem'e on within'th the ck 1) nto any desired position l f h 'f e A s ere shown the aforesaid carriage holding or automaticbrake means includes parser bl' alfe shoes 36"and 3 l'fixed to reduced ends 38 of th shaft 1 3| and constructed and rranges t6 fri I; uo auy contact the anszz-whritli supp" is; m evd to disposethe't'ray A with n its range" ofdisplay position weli a-s a x r ra te Wh' h hi S j d al-av? endr i e's i fi i iti shoes ar moved out of contact'withthe rails rid tl'fefcarria'ge is therefore released for free more: me'nt.

Y ere 'show'n the b r akefshoesyairej so res l ent and so shaped that they will 'provi desired braking action-in themamieir hereinb'e forenotefd. Due to the" resiliency :or she s 31' th'ey willi yield whentheshaift isturri d as vertically adjusting the trayfor display at air-i fere'nt heights wilh ii the predetermined small display range. The o prafd forcibly mo (5' the tray p or down'w'ithin thils' man aha-w e the shoes frictionally' Contact and yield relative to the rails. The" frictional" engagement" 6: the,

5, the shoes will therefore resist movement of the carriage although they will yield with the turning of shaft 3|, while the small vertical display adjustment of the tray is being made.

Operation ably over the hood of a vehicle stopped in saidzone for service. At this time the brake shoes 31 are moved into braking position as shown in Fig. 13. If it is necessary that the apparatus be moved as a whole, best to position the tray, this may be done while the operator is pulling the tray down and before it reaches display position inasmuch as the brake shoes 31 are disengaged from the rails 22 after but a short downward movement of the support B as shown in Fig. 14.

Upon disposing the tray close to the windshield and over the hood of. the vehicle the display is brought forcibly to the attention of the occupant or occupants of the vehicle to suggest purchase of the article on the tray. When the servicing operation has been completed the operator pulls on the pawl-releasing flexible element 34 and the springs l6 and 21 then operate to retract the support B and lift the tray into out-of-the-way position at which time the brake shoes 36 are moved into braking position as shown in Fig. 15.

It will now be apparent that I have provided a novel and efficient displaying and dispensing apparatus which when combined with a service station having one or more motor vehicle servicing zones onto which such a vehicle is driven for service, may be quickly and easily operated to present a display of goods to be sold at a point close to the driver and occupants of the vehicle and preferably in the path of the vehicle so as to command attention to the display and suggest purchase of needed articles and accessories in a particularly effective manner with provision for quickly moving the display out of the path of the vehicle.

While I have shown and described a specific embodiment of my invention I do not limit myself to the exact details of construction set forth, and the invention embraces such changes, modifications and equivalents of the parts and their formation and arrangement as some within the purview of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In apparatus for displaying goods at a servicing zone of a motor vehicle service station, an overhead support adjacent said zone, of a display tray for exhibiting goods to be sold, tray supporting means mounted on said overhead support and operable for moving the tray from an elevated out-of-the-way position into a display position in the path of and close to a motor vehicle stopped in said zone, spring means normally holding said tray supporting means retracted to dispose the tray in said out-of-the-way position, latch means for holding the tray supporting means in displaying position, and means for releasing said latch means whereby said spring means will retract said tray supporting means and'dispose the tray in out-of-the-way position.

' 6 2. In apparatus for displaying goods at a servicing zone of a motor vehicle service station, an overhead support adjacent said zone, of a tray for exhibiting goods to be sold, tray supporting means mounted on said overhead support and operable for moving the tray from an elevated outof-theway position into a display position in the path of and close to a motor vehicle stopped in said zone, and subsequently operable for retracting the tray into said out-of-the-way position, said overhead support including a carriage movable back and forth for disposing the tray supporting means and tray in different positions, and brake means operating to prevent movement of said carriage when the tray is in out-of-the-Way and display positions and releasing said carriage when the tray is disposed between its out-of-the-way and display positions.

3. In apparatus for displaying goods to be sold at a motor vehicle service station, garage or the like where motor vehicles are driven onto and stopped in a servicing zone, an overhead support, a display tray on which are supported articles to be displayed and sold, and an extensible and retractible tray supporting means supported by said overhead support and operable for moving the tray from an out-of-the-way position into a display position adjacent a motor vehicle stopped in said service zone and with the tray disposed close to and in the line of vision of the occupant or occupants of the vehicle, said overhead support including a, carriage movable back and forth for disposing the tray supporting means and tray in different positions.

4. In apparatus for displaying goods to be sold at a motor vehicle service station, garage or the like where motor vehicles are driven onto and stopped in a servicing zone, an overhead support, a display tray on which are supported articles to be displayed and sold, and an extensible and retractible tray supporting means depending from said support and operable for moving the tray from an out-of-the-way position into a display position in the path of a motor vehicle stopped in said service zone with the tray close to and in the line of vision of the occupant or occupants of the vehicle, spring means normally holding said tray supporting means in retracted position to dispose the tray in out of the way position, a latch means for holdin said tray supporting means in extended positions, and latch releasing means operable from said zone for releasing the latch means whereby the spring means will retract said tray supporting means.

5. In apparatus for displaying goods to be sold at a motor vehicle service station. garage or the like wher motor vehicles are driven onto and stopped in a servicing zone, an overhead support, a display tray on which are supported articles to be displayed and sold, an extensible and retractible tray supporting means operable for moving the tray from an out-of-the-way position into a display position in the path of a motor vehicle stopped in said service zone and with the tray close to the occupant or occupants of the vehicle and subsequently operable for retracting the tray into said out-of-the-way position, said overhead support including a carriage movable back and forth for disposing the tray supporting means and tray in different positions; and brake means operating to prevent movement of said carriage when the tray is in out-of-theway and display positions and releasing said carriage when the tray is disposed between its out-of-the-way an display positions.

v 6, In, apbiiifiatlis for displaying (g'bgdi tpjbg 'sglgl at a motor \(ehible sgrviq statibnh arag'e QrJJhg like Where mOtoixshicl's. aide drivgn bntqq and stopped a Servicirigfzo'n; anj vrhad'sgp 6111;, a display my on which are supported articlejsj t!) be displayed arid 561d, an extensible. and rfiragfi; ible tray supporting'means operable forimovin the tray from an bHt-ofltlj-Way.pdsitionintga display: position in .th path 012, motoryhicle stopped in saidvservice zonefla nd witl the tray clbse to the occupant, or .occupanfis of .thevehiclg, a carriage slippqrting' said .tray Supportingmans and mbvable on salid Qvei headfslipport for dis: posing thetray siiicipprtingmealri's ,and,.ti',y,.in differgnt locations, bilaki meari opei'a tingntb brevent r'no'veni'ent .p'f said. carrigg when. the. tray is in oilfi-of-the-way and display pdsijiibn md rleasing said carriage when the try'i disp'bsed 6 matically retracting saidntray supporting means incident to release of said latch means.

1,819,516 Kelly Aug. 18,1931 

